Title page
Contents
Summary 4
1. The retail sector in the UK: definition and statistics 6
1.1. Definition of the retail sector 6
1.2. Economic contribution of the retail sector 6
Summary 6
Economic output 7
1.3. Employment 8
1.4. Businesses 9
2. Retail sales in Great Britain 10
Coronavirus pandemic: impact on sales 11
Non-store and online sales 12
3. Pressures on the retail sector 13
3.1. Coronavirus pandemic 13
3.2. Internet retailing 13
3.3. Shop closures 16
3.4. Empty shops 18
3.5. Changing consumer behaviour 19
3.6. Economic factors 21
3.7. Changing supermarket environment 24